Täˀammərä Maryam (Miracles of Mary)

Collection ID

MS.000333

Type

Manuscript

Date

ca. 1750-1850

Geography

Ethiopia

Language

Ge'ez

Medium

Ink on Parchment

Dimensions

13.5 × 11.3 × 3.1 in. (34.3 × 28.6 × 7.8 cm)

Exhibit Location

Not on View

Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the most venerated saint in the Ethiopian religious tradition. Over 100 miracles are attributed to her, and many Ethiopian churches are dedicated to her honor. During the reign of King Dawit (r. 1382–1413), a translation of the French (and later Arabic) book the Miracles of Mary was commissioned for his personal use. Later, King Fasilädäs (r. 1632–1667) commissioned many profusely illustrated copies of the Gospels and the Miracles of Mary (called Täˀammərä Maryam). This copy, produced in the eighteenth to nineteenth century, contains 34 miracle stories and 72 illustrations depicting 114 scenes. All but the first painting (which is a later addition) are in the Second Gondarene style and show distinctly European influence. In addition to the miracles of Mary, the manuscript includes other texts devoted to her: the Mäs’hafä Ser’at, or Introductory Rite, originating from Mu‘allaqa in Egypt, a hymn to the Virgin, and two texts entitled, “A Homily of John Chrysostom” (Dersanä zä-[Abba] Yohannes Afä Wärq) on the Annunciation. To learn more about the Miracles of Mary in this manuscript, please visit https://pemm.princeton.edu/manuscripts/MoBEth333.

Created in the eighteenth to nineteenth century, Ethiopia.[1] Acquired by Éfrém. Acquired by Zämika’él.[2] Purchased privately by Sam Fogg Rare Books and Manuscripts, London, England; Purchased privately in 2010 by the Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in2019 to Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.

Notes: [1] Dated in 2023 by Dr. Steve Delamarter of George Fox University and Dr. Jeremy Brown of the Catholic University of America based on the art, handwriting, and materials. There is no colophon to indicate the date of creation. [2] The original owner’s name appears as Éfrém in the invocations for blessings throughout the manuscript. He also appears as a supplicant before the Virgin in painting 30 (f.75r). Another, presumably later owner, Zämika’él, is mentioned in the text below painting 12 (f.45r).

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